Navel Gazing

A journey through the life—and notebooks—of journalist John Dickerson.

About the Show

Political Gabfest host John Dickerson has been a journalist for more than three decades, reporting about presidential campaigns, political scandals, and the evolving state of our democracy. Along the way, he’s also been recording his observations in notebooks he has carried in his back pocket. He has captured his thoughts about life, parenthood, death, friendship, writing, God, to-do lists, and more. On the Navel Gazing podcast, John Dickerson invites you to join him in figuring out what these 30 years of notebooks mean: sorting out what makes a life—or a day in a life—noteworthy.

Host

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: The Meaning Behind All This Navel Gazing

The season finale of Navel Gazing explores John Dickerson’s search for meaning in a box of notebooks

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: Time Travel Via an Assortment of Journal Entries

Life in Maine, a medical scare, Mothers’ Day, and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: Moving in New York Twenty Years After September 11th

Renting before Zillow, the orange carpet of the garret, September 11th, and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: The Sneaky Pitfalls of the To-Do List

Wearing your to-do list, the teachers we remember, and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: Remembering Early 1990s New York

Getting used to a new city, work advice, passing on wisdom, and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: The Power of Four Numbers

Noticing longer, gray lockboxes, a soul-crushing teacher, Georgia O’Keeffe and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: Remembering George and Defending the Morning

 Easing into the day, remembering his dog George, feeling absences in your bones, and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: Sending Our Son to College

Drawing grand conclusions, neon lights, dorm room greeters, giving advice, and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.

John Dickerson’s Notebooks: An Exploration of Inklings

Living room declarations, the Sunday Scaries, conversational bids and more are explored in this week’s audio essay from John Dickerson.